5 Ways To Successfully Teach STEM Education and Design Thinking

Kids are naturally excited about STEM. They enjoy hands-on learning and have an innate curiosity to understand what makes things work and how parts are connected to the whole. As educators, to be successful teachers of STEM, design thinking and project-based learning, it’s important for us to foster that excitement that our students exude. We, too, must be excited. Our students will feed off our energy and their love for all things STEM will grow.

First, What is STEM Education and Why Is It Important?

If students are not familiar with STEM learning (and some may not be), it can help to start with defining the term STEM as an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Then explain the importance of these cornerstone subjects (i.e., how they touch every area of our lives and offer real-life applications). This is an appealing concept to students who don’t see the point in studying science or math perhaps. Very practically, students can use what they learn from STEM to understand the world around them and prepare for their future careers.

In a recent article in The Harvard Gazette, Bridget Long, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, cited the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which shows employment in STEM occupations has grown 79% in the past three decades with STEM jobs projected to grow an additional 11% from 2020 to 2030. To be clear though, she adds “the importance of STEM education is about so much more than just jobs. STEM fields demand curious individuals eager to solve the world’s most pressing problems. The study of STEM subjects teaches critical-thinking skills, and instills a mindset that will help students find success across numerous areas and disciplines.“

What role does design thinking play in K-12 STEM education? Design thinking is a process for creative problem solving, using innovative ideas to come up with solutions for problems that may not be well-defined. Design thinking and STEM education go hand-in-hand to solve problems by focusing on the people for whom they are designing. Learn more about the WhyMaker 7-stage process for incorporating design thinking into K-12 STEM education.

 

Get Parents/Guardians on Board with STEM for Students

The role of parents or guardians is very important when fostering students’ excitement about STEM. Having enthusiastic partners in their children’s STEM education will contribute to a better experience for all. Share with parents what students are doing in class and how it improves students' learning such as practical knowledge, as well as innovative and critical thinking, problem-solving, and personal growth.

Inviting role models working in different STEM professions to speak to classes has been shown to encourage students and get them excited about their futures. Parents and guardians will be influenced positively by their children’s reactions to STEM professionals taking an interest in their education and supporting them.

Give parents activities to do with their children at home that connect to the STEM projects they are doing in class. Check out this list of unplugged activities families can do together at home.

 

Embrace the Benefits of STEM and Design Thinking

Here are 5 ways to set yourself up for success when teaching t STEM education:

1. Provide a dedicated space for STEM learning – At WhyMaker, we have lots of resources and we are here to support you in creating an exciting Makerspace for teaching STEM.  Here’s a guide for creating your own Makerspace.
2. Offer hands-on learning experiences that encourage students to overcome challenges and solve real problems. Create learning goals and friendly competitions for team building. Read more about engaging students in hands-on learning.
3. Do skill-building projects with students – teach them how to use and allow them to practice with materials and techniques like cardboard attachments, different types of adhesives and building sturdy triangles or a wheel and axle. These skill builders will allow students to have success and build confidence in their abilities.
4. Enlist adults or high school students to mentor younger students – this not only benefits the younger students but provides a mentoring role for older students. Adult mentors may be STEM professionals/retirees or other interested volunteers. With support and mentoring, all students will benefit, even students who don’t feel they have an aptitude for STEM.
5. Teach your students about careers in STEM – the workforce needs students with STEM backgrounds. Check out this post.

STEM and the Important of Educational Equity

Increasing access and opportunity in schools is vital and this includes equal access to STEM education.

A recent Pew Research Center article references a 2021 analysis of U.S. government data showing “Black and Hispanic workers remain underrepresented in STEM jobs compared with their share of the U.S. workforce.” Women are also vastly underrepresented in some STEM fields. Guess what helps? “The prospects for increasing diversity in the STEM workforce are closely tied to the educational system.”

According to Graduate School of Education Academic Dean Martin West in The Harvard Gazette article, more can be done to ensure students from all backgrounds are exposed to a wide variety of opportunities.  Companies offering access to digital platforms and free online learning tools are attempting to bridge the gap. There is also a need for supporting teachers through increased funding.

At WhyMaker, we believe all students should be engaged in purposeful, project-based learning experiences. Check out our workshops that help schools build a culture of Maker Education.

Not ready for a workshop? Check out our teachers pay teachers page for some resources you can use in your classroom right now. Can’t afford our teacher pay teachers products? Send us an email and we will send the documents you are curious about in return for giving us feedback.